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Commentary on Mantra 10 of Sri Isopanisad:

Building upon the notions laid out in mantra 9, this mantra explains that there is a culture of knowledge (vidyaya) and a culture of nescience (aviddaya). Most of society belongs to the culture of nescience, which is why business and science classes swell, and religion and ethics classes go by the wayside. People are concerned with making money, and gaining fame, so much so that they do not understand what they are doing. This is why we have war, poverty, and so many other problems. One can split the atom and create a bomb. One can create new ways of strip mining to destroy the mountains. Of course, one can also cure diseases, but that too is done in the name of profit and fame.

The knowledge that our culture tries to attain is a knowledge of destruction. People of this culture seek the money and fame as a way of masking the miseries of this existence. We all want to be happy, and so we seek ways to amuse ourselves, and avoid the pains. So

Bhakti is not under karma. Bhakti is under your good will. If you accept to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, you can do that without being checked by anything else. Simply you have to will, "Yes, Kṛṣṇa. You are asking me. So long I did not do. From this day I do." That will depend upon you.
-Srila Prabhupada - Morning Walk —
July 2, 1975, Denver

"In every era many persons whose personalities were rajasik (passionate) and tamasik (slothful or dark) attained Me by virtue of associating with My devotees. Some such persons were demons, while others were heavenly beings. Birds and beasts attained Me, and among humans, I have been attained by businessmen, simple labourers, women and others. Vritasur, Prahlad, Bali, Banasur, Maya and Vibhishan (born to demon families) attained Me, as did Sugriv, Hanuman, Jambavan, Gajendra, and Jatayu (animals). Tuladhar, Dharma-Vyadha, Kubja, the gopis and the wives of the Brahmins who were making the sacrificial offerings - all of them attained Me, though they performed no austerities, nor did they study scripture to great lengths or worship the great saints. They attained Me just by associating with Me and My devotees. (Srimad Bhagwatam 11.12.3-7) "

"Intelligence engaged in My devotion cannot be thwarted at any time. Even at the time of creation, as well as at the time of annihilation, your remem

Worshiping Govardhana

The festival commemorating Bali Maharaja’s surrender to Lord Vamanadeva, the dwarf incarnation of Lord Krsna. A Deity of Vamana is worshiped.

When Lord Vamandev was pleased with Bali maharaj and appeared in Vishnu-rupa, Bali asked a boon that Lord Vishnu would be on every door at Patalaloka because in Nether regions Bali wants his society Lord Vishnu agrees and goes to become a Dwarpalaka of Bali. Narad tells Laxmi where Lord Vishnu is. Laxmi plays trick on Bali – she goes to Bali as a poor woman seeking help – with her she takes raksha bandan. She says to Bali that she doesn't have a brother – and would dearly like one. When the raksha bandan is tied the brother has to offer her something. Bali asked Laxmi what he can give her, Laxmi replied that you have my everything in your service – please release Lord Vishnu.

As Yama's sister is Yamuna and she fed Yama to his satifaction he said that from now on any brother who visits thesister on Bhaidhuj day will escape the hand of Yamaraj – the

One time some mad elephants attacked Rasikananda. Calmly, he chanted "Gauranga, Gauranga, Krishna, Krishna" while sprinkling water on the rampaging beasts. The elephants immeditately stopped charging, humbly bowed their heads, raised their trunks, and bellowed "Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!" (In the wallpaper: Rasikananda Prabhu, and some elephants).

Dipa-dan, Dipavali, or Diwali (and Kalipuja) is a commemoration of Lord Rama’s return from exile to Ayodhya, His capital, following the defeat of the demon Ravana. (Vaisnavas don’t regularly observe Kalipuja, the worship of Durga Devi.)

The story goes that Hanuman was sent by Rama to Ayodhya the day before Rama's arrival as prearranged with Bharat to let the residents of Ayodhya know how Sita and Rama and all Their retinue were returning.

This was five days before Diwali, and after the Vijaya dasami (victory of Rama ) celebration.

THE STORY BEHIND "DIWALI"
King Dashrath ruled the rich and prosperous city of Ayodhya. He had three wives and Kaikayi was his favourite. She saved his life in a war at a very crucial time. Dashrath granted her two favours for saving his life.

Dashrath had four sons. Rama, the oldest, was everybody's favourite. He was married to the beautiful and devoted Sita. Just before Ram's coromation, Kaikayi reminded Dashrath of her two favors. She told him to crown Bharat as

Adya Dhyanam

Nikashaw-prastara-shyamang shirshay mukuta-manditaam.
Lalatey netra-chinhena trinetri-krita- bigrahaam.
Aghoraang padma-patraava bishaala-smita-lochanaam.
Sukrishna prajalla-drupa netra-dwaya-kaninikaam.
Drishtyaa sakarunaa-vaasaang jataa-tritaya-shovitaam.
Suprasanna mukhaad-vojang naanaa-bhushana-bhushitaam.
Urdhay baama-karay khargang nrimunda bibhrati-madhah.
Abhayancha barang dakhsha-karayo kathita-kramam.
Lola-jihvaang padaalambi-mundamaala-bimanditaam.
Saalang-kaarang baraa-kaarang kara-kaanchi-bibarjitaam.
Padmaakriti-shilaapithay shyaana-Shiba-bakhshashi.
Sthitang-dakhsha-padang nasya-tadah-kharou paranm padam.
Ameyam-abhayang debing para-bramha-swarupinim.
Dhyaey-Adyang manaa-adyantang chitra-rupa dharang-Paraam.

Meditation Hymn of Adya Kali

She is dark as a black rock, wearing a jeweled crown.
The sign of a third eye is on her forehead, 
She, the Goddess with three eyes.
Like lotus petals, Her eyes are large, 
They shine like two bright jewels.
Her glance showers compassion. 
Three l

http://youtu.be/TRCst5TC8oc

PAMHO, Prabhus!

Below is a comment on Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 8.

This mantra offers a description of the transcendental nature and eternal form of the Absolute. The Mayavadi philosophers find that the Supreme Lord has no form, but in this sruti-mantra, we find that the Supreme does have a form; however, that form is not like the form found in the material world. It is a transcendental form. This means that while humans have a mechanical form where all things work to a particular order, the Lord does not. Veins pump blood through the system, impulses from the brain cause actions in the body. We feel with hands, see with eyes, taste with tongue, and so forth. With the Supreme Lord, this is not the case. Each part of His body can do the work of the other senses. So the Lord may see through eyes, mouth, hands, etc..

When humans describe the Lord as formless, it simply means that the Lord cannot be conceived--He is devoid of a form we can imagine, since it is wholly "other" than what we know i

" Just like one of my German Godbrothers said that in Germany during the last war, Second World War, many women used to go to the church to pray to God to get back their husband, son, or brother. But nobody came back. And they became atheist: "There is no God. We prayed so much, and my father did not come, my brother did not come, my son did not come." So motivated devotion is sometimes frustrated, and they become atheist. Therefore the devotee who has no motive is pure devotee. "In any condition, it is my duty to love God and to serve Him, not for my benefit but God's satisfaction." That is pure devotee. "

Srila Prabhupada's Room Conversation with three Trappist Monks, Psychologists from the University of Georgia, and Atlanta Lawyer, Michael Green

Narada-kunda Dasi said; "manu samhita is dharma shastra (as in dharma, artha, kama, moksa) for satya yuga. for kali yuga, parashara smriti is there... the british imposed and (of course) adjusted manu smriti for their own purposes, to rule easier...
the vaisnava community has its own code of etiquette, since their aim is bhakti, while the aim of dharma is attaining heavenly planets."

http://archanavedantam.blogspot.com/.../parasara-smriti.html
23: Parasara Smriti @
archanavedantam.blogspot.com|By Dee Pa

Parasara Smriti @
Labels: Religious
Smriti created by sage Parashar Muni,  and known by his name as 'Parashar Smriti is the most benevolent for the modern Kali Yuga. Parashara has himself said:

TRANSLATED TEXT OF PARASARA SMRITI

1. Manu Smriti was most relevant in Satya Yuga. In Treta, Smriti created by Gautam had most relevance whereas in Dwapar, Shankh's Smriti was mostly recognized. But in
Kali Yuga, it is Parashar Smriti that by and large shows the way to the ignorant people. Para